Chapter 8 Good Deeds, Great Reward
After finally managing to coax Jiang Xi to leave, Shang Yuji returned to her room and finally had time to read the letter from the Princess.
As soon as she opened the envelope, several stacked banknotes immediately filled her vision, and for a moment she could not see anything else.
Silver notes, light yet heavy silver notes!
It was only through sheer willpower that Shang Yuji managed to tear her eyes away from the banknotes.
Inside the envelope were two sheets of paper, one with sharp, unrestrained strokes, and the other with gentle, elegant handwriting.
They came from the eldest princess and Cui Shuxin respectively.
That makes sense. Apart from the people who handled it, no one knows where they went after leaving the capital. Besides, she has already tried her best to reduce the number of people who know about their departure.
Cui Shuxin wanted to write to her, but she could only explain the situation to the Princess beforehand and then follow the Princess's lead.
The eldest princess's letter was at the top, and Shang Yuji naturally read it first.
The letter didn't contain much information, but the core message was that she had made a great contribution to the matter of the west wing and would be rewarded; although the salt-making project hadn't yielded results yet, it had been effective and would be rewarded again.
Therefore, the silver notes that fell down earlier with larger denominations were gifts from the eldest princess.
It's incredibly rare for a white-collar worker to find a boss who truly understands them in their lifetime.
She is willing to dedicate her entire life to serving the Princess Boss!
As for the smaller denominations, Cui Shuxin slipped them in as a token of her gratitude.
Cui Shuxin's writing was longer than Princess Long's, and it roughly explained that the locust wood box was planted by someone who disapproved of the prince's behavior, who bribed the servants in the mansion.
She didn't elaborate on more confidential details, such as what was inside the locust wood box, where the box came from, who the bribers were, and what became of them.
She carefully controlled her words, expressing her gratitude and attitude.
Although Shang Yuji already knew that the mastermind was the Second Prince, he was very cautious in some matters. Therefore, the person who took the lead at the Spring Festival banquet was not directly related to the Second Prince's faction. Even if an investigation was conducted, it would only reveal that someone was whispering in the ear of the person who took the lead.
She estimated that, regarding the royal secrets of the Second Prince's scheme to frame the Eldest Princess, the Ministry of Justice would most likely convict the ringleader and dare not investigate further.
It's a bit of a pity, but since the eldest princess solved the case of the witchcraft doll, the aftermath won't end as tragically as described in the original book.
Cui Shuxin died, and Cui Shu discovered that it was the Second Prince's faction that murdered him. He then joined the Second Prince's party and endured hardship and humiliation. The Eldest Princess was punished by the Emperor and imprisoned. Although the staff members were not implicated, they either left or scattered as a result.
Now that the eldest princess has extricated herself from the witchcraft and preserved her strength, the second prince's faction's scheme has been exposed, and she has also received a new large reward.
That night, Shang Yuji dreamt that she was punching the Second Prince with her bare hands, kicking Young Master Jiang with her left foot, and stepping on Young Master Jiang with her right foot. Even the general and prime minister, whom she had never met before, were afraid of her and begged for mercy repeatedly.
.
The aftermath of the witchcraft incident actually exceeded Shang Yuji's expectations.
The case was originally intended to be based on the charge that the ringleader was jealous of the Princess's residence and wanted to harm the Princess out of personal grudges.
But then a stubborn man emerged: Zhang Cheng, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, who was also a good official whom Lin Mingshan personally recognized as a good official and abandoned the assassination attempt on.
Zhang Cheng insisted on continuing the investigation, and his superior couldn't stop him, which led him to uncover new clues.
In order to find out who the whisperer was connected to, he took advantage of the moment when everyone thought the matter was over and relaxed, disguised himself as a passerby, and followed the whisperer day and night.
Heaven rewards those who persevere, and he finally discovered the flaw.
The man who had been whispering in Zhang Cheng's ear entered the bookstore and slipped a note into one of the miscellaneous books. Zhang Cheng waited there all day, and just as it was getting dark, a servant finally arrived, bought the book without even looking at the title, and hurriedly left.
The investigation revealed that the servant was a senior advisor to the Second Prince's household. Upon learning that the advisor had been exposed, Zhou Ao decisively distanced himself from the matter, claiming that he knew nothing about the advisor's actions and that everything was the advisor's personal doing.
The Minister of Justice failed to prevent it again. Zhang Cheng, this hothead, submitted a memorial, playing the trump card that the Second Prince had private ties with the Southern Frontier. The evidence was obtained from a senior advisor who was unhappy about being abandoned by the Second Prince.
In recent years, the relationship between Da'an and Nanjiang has not been bad, but there have been minor conflicts. The second prince, who had a private relationship with Da'an, tried to frame his blood relatives, and was released from confinement by the emperor in a fit of anger.
The eldest princess originally intended to accept the Ministry of Justice's initial conviction, but unexpectedly, a stubborn Zhang Cheng emerged, like a fearless catfish charging into a sardine school, knocking the sardines over and leaving them utterly defeated.
Princess Zhou Chaoyun: Stop being so reckless, she's about to lose this catfish!
Guaranteeing someone is a bit of a hassle, but seeing Zhou Ao in such a bad mood makes her even more inclined to go against him.
Overjoyed to receive more good news from the saltworks, she decided to reward them handsomely!
Shang Yuji was not left out and was rewarded along with her.
The study of the Princess's residence.
Cui Shu in a green robe, a middle-aged man in a blue robe, a brightly dressed young man, and A Yi, the silent guard standing by.
The four were all the princess's most trusted confidants, and they had been gathered here today to discuss the arrangements for the witchcraft accusation.
The eldest princess beamed with joy, and the middle-aged man first clasped his hands in congratulations: "Congratulations, Your Highness. With this matter settled, the second prince is like a tiger with its teeth removed, and he will likely be powerless to stop our subsequent actions."
Cui Shu fanned himself with a feather fan, a few stray strands of hair fluttering in the wind: "The plan for Haiyan has been finalized, and it would be best to hand it over to her."
Unlike the others who avoided discussing witchcraft, the young man spoke frankly: "Why doesn't Your Highness take advantage of his illness and kill him? He's suffering a rare setback right now."
Zhou Chaoyun has a pair of captivating eyes; if someone looks into her eyes, her affectionate gaze seems to be able to captivate them.
Those present, however, could not sense the affection in his eyes. Those tender eyes were the most resolute eyes they had ever seen, a chilling and majestic aura surging forth for a moment before being carefully concealed.
She smiled, her voice gentle: "Don't be fooled by Father's apparent anger in issuing the decree to punish my second brother. Is forbidding him from going out not also a form of protection for him?"
"A-Nian, the matter of colluding with the enemy can be a big deal or a small deal. Isn't it up to my father to decide?"
The young man, Qi Nian, cried out in worry, "Your Highness..."
"It's alright. Just remember that being a woman is both my limitation and my advantage."
Father wouldn't consider an heir who was born a daughter, but at the same time, he wouldn't be wary of a daughter who was rich and powerful.
After discussing the arrangements, everyone left with their tasks. As dusk fell, the wall lamps were lit one by one, and the wind rustled through the lush trees.
Zhou Chaoyun put down the purple-tipped brush in his hand, gazing at the documents awaiting completion. He couldn't help but recall the Imperial Study, the place representing the pinnacle of power in the land, where the person at the head of the table had a solemn face, tinged with feigned benevolence and a deep-seated indifference.
"Chaoyun, you have suffered this time, but your younger brother was also deceived by the villains of the Southern Frontier. I have already punished him. You and your brother must not let this cause any rift in your relationship."
She could imagine that if the mudslinging succeeded, she would be skinned alive or worse.
But what about her beloved second brother?
With just the phrase "deceived by others," she was still expected to treat her perpetrators with the utmost respect.
I was a little annoyed, but since I was able to get some precious gifts from his private treasury as a form of consolation, I didn't lose too much.
That person still thought of himself as that naive child from ten years ago, waiting for his approval.
Zhou Chaoyun chuckled softly.
The taste of power is far more delicious than the recognition a child receives.
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Ten days later, Shang Yuji had replenished the supplies for the journey and made arrangements with Wang Si and Lao Chen, instructing them to change their wording when calling for help, and to continue south after resting.
Zhou Chaoyun received a new letter from Shang Yuji.
The handwriting is messy and there are still some typos, but it's better than the first submission on the seawater salt production method.
Zhou Chaoyun silently thought: Next time I write a letter, I must tell her to practice her calligraphy more.
With this in mind, she continued reading.
...While bathing, I saw a soapberry and thought of the soap the old man had mentioned.
Prepare fat (from pigs, sheep, or beef), quality is paramount.
Zhou Chaoyun: It seems that pigs are the best choice. Sheep are raised by nomadic people, and there are few sheep in Da'an. Cattle are also valuable for farming, and the common people cannot slaughter them at will.
I wonder if Shang Yuji also considered this, because afterwards she mentioned that pork needs to be stir-fried to taste good, and the feed should be bran, chaff, vegetable leaves, etc.
Pork has a foul odor, but since she brought it up, she must have a way to improve it.
Zhou Chaoyun became interested in seeing how else to remove the fishy smell, but Shang Yuji realized she had gone off-topic and brought the conversation back to how to make soap.
Zhou Chaoyun: Next time, I must tell her to be open and honest! What kind of person leaves things unsaid?!
...The higher the concentration of the wood ash liquid after multiple filtrations to remove impurities, the better.
Heat the oil to remove impurities, then let it cool for a moment.
Pour wood ash liquid into hot oil and stir until the mixture becomes viscous. Salt can be added to increase the hardness of the soap.
After unmolding, store in a cool, dry place for one month.
It also states that there is a ratio between oil and wood ash liquid, which can be determined through experimental comparison.
The more Zhou Chaoyun looked, the more confused he became. What were proportions, variables, labels, comparisons, data records...?
She couldn't understand it at all, but fortunately, she didn't understand it herself, but she could hand it over to someone sitting below who could understand it.
Cui Shu is a good candidate; he'll definitely be curious about this "experimental comparison method."
Skip to the next content!
The point is that soap should be made convenient for the public. Well, that's a good idea. Selling more at a lower profit margin might be a good approach.
As if worried that she wouldn't choose the soap brand, Shang Yuji wrote down another solution: "high-end goods for high-end customers."
Sigh, it's basically robbing money from wealthy and powerful families.
...Weave touching stories into soaps, and use relief carving to make them exquisite. Add flower petals or herbs to make scented soaps and medicated soaps to distinguish them from those used by ordinary people and increase their specialness.
Limited quantities and purchase limits, prices increased dozens of times.
The method is good, but it's still too soft-hearted.
What if the price increases a hundredfold or a thousandfold?
There are plenty of people who want to buy them.
Based on the Princess's understanding of these incompetent and powerful people, she knew they preferred things that were as valuable as possible and could enhance their social standing.
I don't care what it is, as long as it's expensive!
Next, Zhou Chaoyun arranged for someone of high status to "advertise" the deluxe edition soap. He understood that having a respected old lady speak about the soap's merits would surely entice people to buy it, whether out of admiration for her or simply to express their opinion.
Huh? They even hire "shills"?
It's not enough to just say soap is good; someone needs to question it and refute it with real objects on the spot. When everyone sees it for themselves, they will be more convinced of how good soap is.
"Excellent, excellent, excellent!" Zhou Chaoyun praised repeatedly.
How does Shang Yuji's brain work?
It's just so to her liking!
Whether it's seeking benefits for the people, extracting money from the pockets of the powerful and wealthy, or these novel "sales" methods, each step has hit her sweet spot.
good!
When Zhou Chaoyun saw the request she made at the end of the letter, she was overjoyed.
When Cui Shu entered the study to hand over the documents, he heard the Princess's hearty laughter.
Zhou Chaoyun beckoned, and he put down the documents, fanned himself with a bamboo fan, and stepped forward.
"Take a look at this letter."
Cui Shu took the paper and quickly scanned it. When he saw the experimental comparison method mentioned, his eyes were glued to the paper, and he couldn't tear it off.
Finally, he exclaimed, "This Miss Shang is truly a remarkable person."
Zhou Chaoyun: "You are in charge of arranging for craftsmen to make soap, and you can leave the sales to Anian."
Cui Shu gently waved his bamboo fan: "He's very eloquent and can definitely persuade people to willingly open their wallets."
He added a few details, then put away the envelope and left.
Meanwhile, after another month's journey, Shang Yuji and his companions finally arrived in Yangzhou.
A note from the author:
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The methods described in this article are all based on Baidu, and will not be explained further here.
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